8 years post op--question

I had open RNY 8 years ago. Laproscopic was not perfected then. I lost 150 pounds and have kept it off. I started at 400 pounds and now weigh 250. I consider myself and the surgery a success. I am considering having it done again not because of failure but because I have more weight to lose. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this? Can you achieve significant weight loss (50-60 pounds) the 2nd time around? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Dear Laura, If I understand the surgical procedure correctly, the whole intent of the surgery is to be a "tool" to assist you in losing weight. The WLS alone will not guarantee you a weight within "normal" parameters. I was told pre-op by my surgeon and his team that the surgery would be considered a "success" if I lost 50 percent of my EXCESS weight. Not 50 percent of my body weight. So, I was told that after losing 50 percent of my excess weight over a 12 - 18 month period, I would have to work on the rest of it myself (via diet and exercise) to achieve my goal weight. I decided that I would begin dieting and exercise (again) BEFORE having the surgery...and that did really benefit me. At my heaviest, I was 333 pounds, and now I am 251, post-op. I was 286 on the day of surgery 8/17/04, and I have a long way to go....but I am continuing to work out at Curves for Women at least 3 times a week and eating protein-rich foods, to about 800-1000 calories a day, max. My pouch is still relatively small, so I have days when I cannot hold down anything solid. I still depend heavily on the protein drinks to keep my hair from falling out. My mother had WLS 24 years ago (intestinal bypass) and lost about 100 pounds. She was never able to lose all the weight she wanted, but she never really changed her eating habits or exercised the way she was supposed to. After my father died 9 years ago, and after his death, she did exercise more and joined Weigh****chers, and she was able to wear a size 18 for the first time in my 40 years of knowing her. But, after stopping the exercise and diet, her weight crept back up about 30 pounds. She won't ever be HUGE again, but she has to work hard at her weight if she wants to be thinner. If you now weigh 250 pounds, I doubt a surgeon will perform a second RNY on you. You may not have a BMI high enough to justify it, and there could be complications, of course. If you could try to diet and exercise your way down another 50 pounds, then you would really have accomplished something. To lose 200 pounds is an amazing feat! I hope to say I will have done that myself one day! My goal, by the way, is 133! Good luck! Laura H Alabama

laura,i couldn't have said it better myself! this is not a magic trick and neither is a pill if you have the surgery and you have lost a great amount please at least try and change your eating habits and workout! i thought the dietician goes over a plan for you prior to surgery? please i know it's hard but you have to realize that you had surgery to lose weight and you did and it doesn't get more extreme then that so we could at least meet the surgery halfway!

hmm. Something else you might consider is the Lap-Band. I've heard of them doing bands on people who'd previously had the RNY and had lost a great deal of weight but were past their "window of opportunity". The band is adjustable, so if your loss slows (and you are generally following the rules) you can have it adjusted to help you. If something comes up and you need the extra nutrients, it can be emptied. There are going to be some changes you'll have to make to cope with the band that are different than the RNY, so you'll want to do a good amount of research if you decide it's a route you might want to take. The weight loss is slower with the band, and you need to not have that shock you. Just thought I'd mention

There are sergeons that do the surgery again............ I know a girl only 3 years out and they are redoing her pouch and making it smaller again! She has gained back a few pounds........... So does not hurt to check into it!

I had a proximal RNY 13 years ago, I gained all my weight back-- from 310 to 240 and back to 320. In the last year I exercised and dieted my way down to 260. I am hoping to continue to lose weight at this slow rate. However, I am exercising 2 hours a day 7 days a week. At 260 I am very healthy, low blood pressure, excellent pulse, no health problems. I can eat a subway sandwich with low fat chips if I eat slowly. I am also wanting to know if I failed or did the surgery fail or was it a combination of both. Either way, after being over 300lbs for 10 years post RNY, I am learning new eating behaviors. It is never too late. I believe if I consider a revision, I have to show I have changed the things I can change.